Combined reclining, exercising and massaging device



April 25, 1967 J. w. SELLNER 3,315,666

COMBINED RECLINI NG, EXERCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 19632 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR.

April 25, lQfi? w, L N R 3,315,666

COMBINED RECLINING, EXERCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Filed D69. 16, 19632 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR.

ing means (not shown) as may be United States Patent 3,315,666 COMBINEDRECLINING, EXERCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICE John W. Sellner, 10246Silverton Ave., Tujunga, Calif. 91042 Filed Dec. 16, 1963, Ser. No.331,025 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention relates to reclining andexercising devices and refers more particularly to such a deviceactuated by the individual user thereof, or power driven, as may bedesired, said device being operable to various positions for use as abody supporting, exercising and massaging device.

More specifically it refers or relates to an attachment to saidapparatus, and forming part thereof, which upon activation of theapparatus, will massage portions of the human body during stretching andexercising of the body upon the apparatus, whether self administered oractivated by suitable power driven means, whichever may be desired.

The invention also specifically refers to improvements in constructionand assembly of the device whereby stability of the supporting elementsis assured, better balance effected, and smoother operation of theentire combined apparatus thus attained.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby thedevice may be assembled or unassembled for use with a minimum of timeand effort.

These objects as well as others may be better comprehended in the courseof the following description of an apparatus embodying the invention andtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a body supporting, exercising andmassaging device in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing the membersthereof in an attitude of use different from FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation showing the members of the device in stillanother attitude of use.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation showing a modification of the supportingframe of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view taken from below the device of thatportion of the assembly embodying the massaging element.

FIGURE 7 shows a detailed enlarged portion of the supporting frameillustrated in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, there is illustrated a reclining and bodyexercising apparatus 10, in which are shown the body supporting elementsof the apparatus including tubular frame sections 11 and 12 pivotallysecured together at their flattened end points at the center of theentire body supporting section. In greater detail in FIGURE 4, ends 13and 14 of frame sections 11 and 12, hinged at 15 are shown, as well asends 16 and 17 of frame sections 11 and 12, hinged at 18.

A canvas or other suitable flexible covering 19 is stretched over theframe composed of elements 11 and 12, and is held in place thereon byclamps or other securavailable.

Pivotally interconnected frame sections 11 and 12 are mounted in tubularbase members 20 and 21, by flexible members 24-24 below the apexes 22and 23 of said base members to afford a lower center of gravity of theentire assembly, and thus insuring greater stability thereto. Thesestrap members 24-24 have, in the apparatus as here illustrated, bearingsat each end indicated at 24a and 24b. Although this strap member hasbeen found to be effective, applicant does not wish to limit himself3,315,666 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 to the specific construction as shown,as chains or other flexible supports may be employed.

The tubular base members 20-21 are so formed and shaped as to be spacedapart laterally at 32-32 and longitudinally at 33-33 to form a tapereddouble M shape and thus assure a maximum of stability to the entireassembly.

Below one end of the body supporting frame at 13 and 16, see FIGURE 6,and extending downward in an arc therefrom, is a member 25, secured bywelding or otherwise to frame ends 13 and 16. To this arched member 25is pivotally secured at 28 by adjustable member 27, a curved rod or pipemember 26, which extends past the junction of the frame sections atpoints 15 and 18, and has its forward end rigidly secured to the centerof a U-shaped member 29 at point 26a. This U-shaped member is flexiblysecured to sections 14 and 17 of the body supporting frame by springs30-30 in such a manner as to exert sustained pressure of the U-shapedmember and a plurality of soft sponge rubber balls 31- 3112 supportedbetween the upper ends of the U-shaped member on rod 31a, against theunderside of the flexible cover 19, so that in operation of theexercising portion of the apparatus, more specifically, thereciprocating movement of the body supporting member, the massagingassembly will be actuated to massage those portions of the operatorsbody resting over the point of contact of the rubber balls with theunderside of the fabric cover 19. It has been found practical to havethe balls 31-31 of larger diameter than the balls 3112-3111, so that inuse the massaging action Will be accentuated adjacent the ends of theball supporting rod 31a, and reduced adjacent the center of the rod.This arrangement provides greater massage manipulation on the muscles ofthe operators back when said operator lies supine upon the bodysupporting member 10, with his back resting upon the covering fabric 19.

In FIGURES 5 and 7, an alternative supporting section of the apparatusis shown composed of two inverted V-shaped tubular members 34-34, shapedas shown and hinged at points 35-35 to be movable longitudinally toelevate or depress the hinged portions of the members, and so conformedat the base 36-36 of the supporting members to rigidly form lateralspacing between the parallel sides of said members. A flexible band 37is provided, having closely spaced grommets 38 therein, which aresecured in base 36 over bolts 40-40 extending upward from the base, andsecured thereon by thumb screws 39-39 in the desired position, andsecured sufliciently to prevent longitudinal slippage of the basemembers, thus avoiding possible collapse.

The body supporting frame 10 may be secured by flexible members 24-24from hinge points 35-35, in the same manner as it is suspended from thebase assembly shown in FIGURE 1 through FIGURE 4.

The inverted V members are shown in FIGURES 5 and 7 in juxtaposition andsecured by flexible band 37 so that they are equal in height from baseto apex. The height may be varied between the adjacent members byincreasing or decreasing the angle formed at the hinges 35-35, to allowone half of this base assembly to be more elevated than the other half,and then secured in this position, by first adjusting the flexible bandover the bolts and then securing the thumb screws in place.

What I claim is:

1. A combination body supporting, exercising and massaging devicecomprising a pair of pivotally interconnected body supporting framemembers, a longitudinally adjustable base member, flexible membersmounted pivotally on each side of said base member and securing saidbody supporting member within said base member, a massaging devicecomprising a supported curved member ex- :ending below and rigidlysecured to each side of one of :he body supporting members, an archedmember below the other body supporting member and extending between thetwo sides of the other body supporting member, spring members connectingthe ends of the arched member to the sides of the other body supportingmember, a rigid rod having one end rigidly connected at one end to saidarched member and at the other end pivotally connected to said curvedmember, a plurality of soft rubber balls of varying sizes mounted withinsaid arched member and so arranged as to massage a human body restingupon the body supporting members When the device is actuated.

2. In a device of the character described, comprising two pivotallyinterconnected body supporting frame members, a double M shaped basemember, means within said base member to adjust same longitudinally,flexible means mounted pivotally on each side of said base member andsecuring the body supporting member within said base member, massagingmeans comprising a supported curved member extending below and rigidlysecured to both sides of one of the body supporting members, an archedmember below the other body supporting member and extending between thetwo sides of the other body supporting member, spring members securingthe ends of the arched member to the sides of the other body supportingmember, a rigid rod having one of its ends solidly secured to saidarched member and its other end pivotally connected to said curvedmember, a plurality of sponge rubber balls of varying diameters mountedwithin said arched member and so arranged as to massage a human bodyresting upon the body supporting members when the device is actuated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,689 2/1959Gavelek 12833 3,075,518 1/1963 Sellner 128-25 3,164,150 1/1965 Reid128-57 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

20 L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner.

1. A COMBINATION BODY SUPPORTING, EXERCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICECOMPRISING A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED BODY SUPPORTING FRAMEMEMBERS, A LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE BASE MEMBER, FLEXIBLE MEMBERSMOUNTED PIVOTALLY ON EACH SIDE OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND SECURING SAIDBODY SUPPORTING MEMBER WITHIN SAID BASE MEMBER, A MASSAGING DEVICECOMPRISING A SUPPORTED CURVED MEMBER EXTENDING BELOW AND RIGIDLY SECUREDTO EACH SIDE OF ONE OF THE BODY SUPPORTING MEMBERS, AN ARCHED MEMBERBELOW THE OTHER BODY SUPPORTING MEMBER AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TWOSIDES OF THE OTHER BODY SUPPORTING MEMBER, SPRING MEMBERS CONNECTING THEENDS OF THE ARCHED MEMBER TO THE SIDES OF THE OTHER BODY SUPPORTINGMEMBER, A RIGID ROD HAVING ONE END RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAIDARCHED MEMBER AND AT THE OTHER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CURVEDMEMBER, A PLURALITY OF SOFT RUBBER BALLS OF VARYING SIZES MOUNTED WITHINSAID ARCHED MEMBER AND SO ARRANGED AS TO MASSAGE A HUMAN BODY RESTINGUPON THE BODY SUPPORTING MEMBERS WHEN THE DEVICE IS ACTUATED.